"I never thought I would be doing this, but I have a love of the ocean I said, ‘Why not,’" she said. "I do miss home, but I enjoy the experience being able to do this."

Pillay supplies sailors on U.S.S. George H. W. Bush where one in four sailors is a woman.

Kayleigh Pillay

"When you think about the Navy you think about mostly males. But being that I’m a female in the Navy and having so many other women serving with me is an honor," she said.

Alexandria native Lt. Dan Palmer is learning to fly the F/A Super Hornet. The biggest thrill? Landing and taking off from a moving ship.

"Every day is a blast," he said. "Everything from the catapult shot at the end of the runway. You’re going 160 mph. It's awesome. It's incredible. The reason I became a fighter pilot is because I want to help guys on the ground overseas. That is a big motivator for me."

Lt. Dan Palmer

Atlee High School graduate Mike Martin prepares Super Hornets for takeoff at Naval Station Norfolk.

"We basically have to work like a sewing machine to operate these jets," he said. "I absolutely love them. Being a part of this job, these planes are basically your babies."

The 21-year-old sailor is obsessed with aviation and said part of him goes up with each flight.

Mike Martin

"That is my job, to make sure they are ready to fly. To see them take off from the runway is absolutely amazing just like you’re seeing right now. I wouldn’t want any other job in the world."